The publish Cat Adoption Numbers Decrease as Online Buying Rises appeared first on Katzenworld – Welcome to the world of cats!.
The UK cat market is exhibiting an rising pattern in direction of shopping for cats over adopting, pushed by a want for a selected breed and comfort.
The proportion of purchased cats bought as an alternative of adopted has elevated by 12% within the final 5 years, in line with Cats Protection’s Cats and Their Stats Report 2022 which takes a novel and unrivalled take a look at the connection between individuals and their pet cats.
The third report revealed by Cats Protection – the biggest cat survey of its form – additionally discovered the web is turning into an more and more fashionable place to purchase cats, with 76% of these surveyed saying they’d purchased their cats on-line previously 12 months.
The report discovered that Facebook has turn out to be considerably extra fashionable as a supply for purchasing a cat (regardless of Cats Protection’s Big Kitten Con marketing campaign earlier this yr which centered on the risks of shopping for on-line) with over 200,000 cats purchased through the platform within the final yr.
Peter Shergold, Head of Field Operations at Cats Protection, stated: “The CATS Report 2022 has proven a worrying uplift within the buy of cats on-line. Of course, there are lots of accountable sellers on the market however there are additionally unscrupulous ones who disguise behind the anonymity of the web to promote kittens which are far too younger to have been taken from their moms, or which are sick.
“However, there may be some constructive information. Following Cats Protection’s Big Kitten Con marketing campaign, Facebook responded saying that it has taken down numerous adverts, and now has a full-screen alert when somebody searches on the platform for a kitten to purchase, informing the person of Facebook’s guidelines.”
Convenience and a want for a selected cat or breed have been proven to be important components behind the rise in on-line cat shopping for.
Twenty-nine per cent of these surveyed stated they selected to purchase slightly than undertake as a result of it was the best or quickest approach to get the cat they need.
“There is a transparent necessity for rehoming charities to adapt their adoption course of to encourage shoppers to undertake as an alternative of buying cats on-line.” Peter continues, “the welfare of the cat is an important factor, so we have to discover methods to satisfy this want for comfort whereas defending the cat. One method to do that might be direct homing the place cats could be homed straight from the particular person giving up the cat to the adopter, with Cats Protection facilitating the method.”
The CATS Report additionally uncovered numerous key cat welfare challenges within the years forward:
- Approximately 1.2 million cats stay unregistered with a vet, with virtually 1 / 4 (24%) of cat homeowners saying that price was the most important barrier to creating vet visits as usually as they want.
- Up to three.2 million cats should not totally protected in opposition to ailments which are preventable with vaccination.
- Less than two-thirds of homeowners are usually defending their cats in opposition to parasites reminiscent of fleas and worms.
- Thirty per cent of all cat homeowners expressed important concern over having the ability to afford payments and different dwelling prices over the following 12 months on account of worth will increase.
Peter stated: “The UK continues to be very a lot a society of cat lovers, with extra individuals estimated now than ever earlier than to be having fun with the advantages of cat possession. Cats Protection will proceed to seek out methods wherein the charity can assist help cat possession and be sure that as many cats as attainable expertise good welfare.
“For occasion, we encourage anybody pondering of shopping for a kitten on-line to make use of the Kitten Checklist, which is obtainable at www.cats.org.uk/buying-a-kitten and particulars every thing it’s essential test to be sure to’re shopping for a contented, wholesome pet.
“Cats Protection additionally runs programmes throughout the UK the place we can assist individuals on restricted incomes with the price of microchipping and neutering their pet cats.
“Understanding the present challenges that cat homeowners face and recognising developments early is vital to assist charities, veterinary professionals and the broader pet trade present probably the most applicable help to cat homeowners.”
The publish Cat Adoption Numbers Decrease as Online Buying Rises appeared first on Katzenworld.
